What to do on the first day of rehearsal

The first day of rehearsal can be the most stressful day of the year for
directors and instructors. New students have to get acquainted, paperwork
needs to be completed, drill has to be handed out, music needs to be memorized,
and so much more.

The first day of rehearsal is also one of the most important days of the
year, as it sets a standard for the rest of the season and lets the band
members know what to expect.

There are many considerations to evaluate when planning the first day of rehearsal, such as:

• How late into the summer is it?
• How many returning (and new) members are there?
• How long have the students had the music to work on (if at all)?
(Music should always be handed out by the end of the previous school year!)
• How soon is the first performance of the season?
• What level of performance are your students at?

These are the five main things I consider when planning a first rehearsal.
My main rule of thumb is, the earlier in the season it is, the more time
that should be spent on basics and fundamentals of technique (visual or
musical). The later in the season it is, the more time that should be
spent on show aspects (drill, show music, etc.). Of course, foundations
of technique must be applied and reviewed all season; currently,
however, we are examining just how much time should be taken up by them.
To further examine our considerations, let's go over the details and
corresponding results for each one:

How late into the summer is it?The later it is in the summer, the more pressure there is to get moving
with the show. The first football game could be in three weeks! At this
point, teach your students everything they need to know to execute
drill, and start teaching drill as soon as possible.

How many returning (and new) members are there?This factor is important, in that it will dictate how much time needs to
be spent teaching foundational concepts, such as mark time, attention
position, forward marching, backward marching, etc. I have found that
the more experienced members there are, the less time I need to spend on
these new concepts each year; the newer members watch the older members and catch on quickly. If there are
fewer new members, this process can be rather quick. (Note: This should not be confused with the
concept that we want as few new members each year as possible!)

How long have the students had the music to work on (if at all)?If the students have had their music for a significant amount of time,
or enough time to learn it and begin the memorization process, more time
can be spent on basic technique, such as proper breathing, tuning, etc.
If it is mid-August and the students are reading the music for the first
time, you might need to jump right into the music and begin basic
technique studies at a later time.

How soon is the first performance of the season?That first football game always seems to be too early! But,
realistically, you need to hit the half time field with something
presentable. If the first performance is sooner than later, it might be
necessary to concentrate on more show-oriented tasks such as learning
drill and memorizing the show music. While most of us would rather have
a really clean opener than a mildly dirty half of the show, we know the
school administration will be knocking on your door if your halftime
show is only three minutes long.

What level of performance are your students at?Hopefully, this level grows each year. If you're in the situation where
you are a new band director building a program, or it is the program's
first few years in existence, more time should be spent on foundations
of a good program, such as rehearsal etiquette, musical and visual
technique, etc. If your students are at a higher level, they will be
rehearsing well by themselves and executing proper technique already,
and more time can be spent on show-oriented tasks.

SOLUTIONS FOR THREE SCENARIOS

Here a few examples of possible first rehearsal scenarios:

1. It is the first week of July, the members have had the music for a
month-and-a-half, and we have two months until the first football game.
We have not received any drill yet. It is a three-hour rehearsal.

I would begin the rehearsal with the usual stretch and brief run, and
then hit the basics block for an hour or so. I would cover parade rest
and attention positions, mark time, and give a brief introduction to
forward marching. Then, I would break off into woodwind and brass
sectionals and work on warm-up exercises and basic technique; brief show
music at the end.

2. It is the third week of July, the members are just getting the music,
and we have a month-and-a-half until the first football game. It is a
three-hour rehearsal. We have drill for the opener.

I would begin the rehearsal with the usual stretch and brief run, then
a fast-paced basics block to explain standing positions and forward,
backward marching. I would then go to music block, which would include a
semi-brief warm-up, and jumping right into show music. We would start
learning drill at the next rehearsal, after basics block.

3. It is the middle of August, the members have had the music for three
weeks, and we have three weeks until the first football game. We have drill
for the entire show. It is a nine-hour day, and the first day of band
camp. (This is a real-life situation that I experienced this past
summer.)

I would begin with the usual stretch and brief run, and a two-hour
basics block to introduce standing positions and marching in all
directions. Although this is much quicker than it should be, we must
perform at the football game. I would then teach everyone how to read a
drill chart, and begin drill rehearsal. After lunch, I would continue
with drill, followed by two hours of music rehearsal at the end.

For the rest of the week, I would continue with the same schedule.
After we finish a part of the show drill-wise, I would put music to it,
then move on to learn more drill.

Obviously, the later in the season the first rehearsal is, the less time
there is to spend on the necessary foundations of visual and musical
technique. While in a perfect world summer rehearsals would begin the
first week of July, and we would have numerous hours of basics and warm-up
time to instill great technique in our students, reality does not
always work with us. The school may not want to pay custodial staff to
have the school open for your summer rehearsals; students go on vacation
and miss all of the basics; the music arranger you thought you had
bailed out and now you need a show fast! These are all possible
scenarios for a late start to a season, and can ruin a program if not
handled correctly. It is important to remember that no matter what the
situation is, there must always be some time spent on foundational
techniques, and to never allow a rehearsal to feel rushed or out of
control.

Even with a late start to the season, it is still possible to instill
great foundations of technique in your students. It will take a little
bit longer, but with careful planning and proper teaching techniques, it
is certainly achievable.

Rob Stein is founder and owner of Standing 'O' Marching Arts Specialists. He holds a master's degree in music education and a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His experience includes work with drum corps, marching bands, jazz bands, wind ensembles, pit orchestras and private lesson studios. The Standing O team specializes in customized original compositions, and also offers drill writing, color guard books, clinics, consultations and leadership training. The staff is trained in modern methods of musical and visual instruction, focusing on the development of body awareness, health and fitness, and overall musicianship.

Text and images courtesy of Rob Stein.

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